The Golden Age of GAs

[mjsbx]

In CivIII, it was pretty obvious when i hit a golden age. My income and research would spike, production would go way up, etc. Now, when I hit a GA, it's like nothing happens. I don't even notice when it's over.
Am I the only one that thinks GAs aren't what they used to be?

 

[HankSSSI]

I never played Civ III, but I will say that Golden Age's in Civ IV don't seem worth the cost of two GP's. I may be missing something though. If I can rush production of a wonder or discover a new technology quickly that seems to be the better option.

 

[JenniferKind]

they are way underpowered. Was like they were put in the game as an afterthought.

 

[koondrad]

well in Civ3 you could only ever have one, but in Civ4 I think you can have more as long as you have the Great People to do it, so in this way I feel it is balanced.

 

[mjsbx]

if I'm going to blow two great people on a GA, they're going to be a great prophet (when i've already built all the shrines i can) and a great scientist. and even that's sketchy, because it's hard to put Great Academies in all of your cities.
Does someone have any numbers on what happens when you hit a GA?

 

[HankSSSI]

It seems like they'd only be worth it in the late game, when GP's aren't as powerful in getting a new tech, rushing a building or expanding culture. Maybe then it would be worth having a Golden Age.

 

[Astax]

I use it seems like this happens:
+1 to gold in tiles producing gold
+1 hammer in tiles producing hammers

Golden Age is good because it can be triggered now. It can give you a nice upper hand in a very close conflict. It doesnt boost research directly, but you get more gold so you get more research. Granted it is short. I believe 14 turns.

 

[harry_horse]

Its only eight turns (I think) and I'm with the people that will not waste the GP's on it. They can have a much greater effect doing other things.

 

[mjsbx]

Astax - thanks for the numbers. It does seem like that isn't quite enough incentive.....perhaps if you are going for the cultural victory, GAs are important. if you can string enough of them together, that could give you a bit of a jump building wonders and such.
But for the other victory conditions, I don't see them helping out that much.

 

[WetWarev7]

I could see sacrificing one GP to trigger a GA, but not two.

 

[Phyr_Negator]

NEVER spend GP's on that crap. it's not even worth having and end almost instantly. Two GP's can provide you with MUCH more profit.

 

[DisruptiveIdiot]

I won a space race just because of a Golden Age, I wouldn't have otherwise been able to complete the parts on time. Use them when you just need that extra boost to get things done. IMO they should be more powerful though, 2 great leaders is OK if a golden age is crucial but anything past that is out of the question.

 

[Dairuka]

Taj Mahal.

Thats the only time I ever bothered to get a Golden Age.

I really didn't want the GA, I just wanted the extra leader production.

 

[damxam]

well in Civ3 you could only ever have one, but in Civ4 I think you can have more as long as you have the Great People to do it, so in this way I feel it is balanced.

With a rising cost of great people every time, so the slim benefits become ever slimmer. GA would have to be good enough to use in the first place. If I'm not going to go into one GA, I certainly won't go into one GA just so I can go into the next one which'll cost even more great people.

 

[Heroes]

NEVER spend GP's on that crap. it's not even worth having and end almost instantly. Two GP's can provide you with MUCH more profit.

How about 1 prophet + 1 artist? Or even better, 2 prophets + 2 artists, they can trigger 2 successional GAs (16 turns) if using them at the same time!

 

[vinstafresh]

I build Taj Mahal for my first and use two obsolete GP to boost my space race, since great works or an academy or other benefits won't do any good anymore anyway. The money for not getting the TM is pretty ok as well I'll just never bother using a great engineer on the TM, especially when you're industrious.

 

[Phyr_Negator]

How about 1 prophet + 1 artist? Or even better, 2 prophets + 2 artists, they can trigger 2 successional GAs (16 turns) if using them at the same time!

Artist's bomb is MUCH more useful than GA, and prophet can work as SC, +5 gold is +5 gold.